Houston quarterback David Piland (8) throws a pass over Texas State defensive lineman Kamu Taulelei (98) during the first quarter in an NCAA football game at Robertson Stadium, Saturday, Sept. 1, 2012, in Houston.

Houston quarterback David Piland (8) throws a pass over Texas State defensive lineman Kamu Taulelei (98) during the first quarter in an NCAA football game at Robertson Stadium, Saturday, Sept. 1, 2012, in

Texas State linebacker Brian Lilly (34) sacks Houston quarterback David Piland (8) during the fourth quarter in an NCAA football game at Robertson Stadium, Saturday, Sept. 1, 2012, in Houston. Texas State beat

4/13/2012 : Head coach Tony Levine watches the of the red team play the white team in the UH spring football game at Robertson Stadium in Houston, Texas. The red team won 42 to 28. For the Chronicle: Thomas B. Shea

4/13/2012 : Head coach Tony Levine watches the of the red team play the white team in the UH spring football game at Robertson Stadium in Houston, Texas. The red team won 42 to 28. For the Chronicle: Thomas B.

"The first chapter was a bad chapter," the coach said in reference to Saturday's 30-13 season-opening loss to Texas State. "But we're not putting the book down. We're going to read the whole thing."

The first few pages of Chapter 2 offer more didn't-see-that-coming moments than a J.K. Rowling series. (Apparently running back Charles Sims goes by the alias "He Who Shall Not Be Used in The Game").

One week into the season, the Cougars have replaced offensive coordinator Mike Nesbitt and turned the play-calling duties over to assistant coach Travis Bush, a former offensive coordinator at Texas State and Texas-San Antonio.

Heading into Saturday's game against Louisiana Tech, Levine said some "tweaks and wrinkles" will be made instead of any reinstalling or overhaul of the Air Raid offense.

Identifying playmakers

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"We're going to get back to what it is, in my mind, supposed to look like," Levine said. "Conceptually, we are the same; philosophically, maybe not quite the same."

That philosophical difference - Levine said he offered input about the play-calling, specifically the lack of plays involving running back Charles Sims - led to Nesbitt's being asked to step down Sunday.

On Monday, after making the staff changes, Levine said he and Bush are "on the same page" and "our philosophy is exactly the same."

Along with getting Sims more involved, Levine said some of the changes involve adjusting routes and angles taken by wide receivers. Levine said the Cougars' up-tempo style will remain, and the staff must identify playmakers - he cited freshmen wide receiver Larry McDuffey and running back Ryan Jackson - moving forward.

"We have identified guys who can make plays. Now we just need to get the ball in their hands, Levine said. "We have to be creative in doing so. I have prided myself since I have been here on a creative and out-of-the-box style, and we are going to get back to that."

Some of the mistakes made on offense Saturday, Levine said, involved young receivers taking their eyes off the quarterback at the wrong time, missing hand signals and running the wrong yardage on routes. Much of the UH playbook was not used, leading one player to tweet after Monday's announcement: "the good ol UH tempo and misdirection is back."

Adjusting routes

"We are tweaking our offense. There will be some noticeable wrinkles, but also some that aren't," Levine said. "There will be some route adjustments to improve some concepts that we had. In that sense, we are not completely scrapping what we've been doing.

"My philosophy is that players are more important than plays. Plays are overrated. We have to get the football into the guys' hands who we know will make plays."

Quarterback David Piland, who completed only 17 of 44 passes, said going through the opener "was a terrible feeling."

"In the game, the tempo wasn't where it should have been," Piland said. "An inefficient offense hits home, especially with me. We shouldn't be 17-of-44. That's on me."